STATICS OF RIGID BODIES

A. Course Code / Title : Statics 213 / Statics of Rigid Bodies

B. Module Number : Module 2 - Fundamental Concepts
C. Time Frame : 2nd week - 1.5 hours
D. Description:
This module looks into the force and their characteristics and effects. It gives
importance on different types of force systems; resolution of forces into its components;
moment of a force; and the vector analysis of forces.

E. Objectives:
At the end of this module, the learner should be able to :
1. Have a better understanding about force and its effects on an object.
2. Identify the different force systems.
3. Resolve the force into its components.

F. Contents:
 Force and their characteristics
A force represents the action of one body on another and is generally characterized by
its point of application, its magnitude, and its direction.
 Force acting on a given particle have the same point of application.
 Magnitude of a force is characterized by a certain number of units, i.e. 1000 N
 The direction of the force is defined by the line of action and the sense of the force. The
line of action is the infinite straight line along which the force acts, it is characterized by
the angle it forms with fixed axis. The sense of the force is represented by the
arrowhead

Line of action

Point of
application
F
Direction

 External and Internal Effects of Forces

 A force acting on an object may cause the object:
- to start moving
- to stop moving
- to accelerate
- to decelerate
- to change its shape and size.
 Force Systems:
 Concurrent Force System
- a system of force in which the lines of action of all the forces intersect at a common
point.
y
z
y
Q
O
F
P
F x
x
O P

T
T
Q
Q

Coplanar - Concurrent Force System Spatial - Concurrent Force System

* Coplanar - forces that lie on one plane (two dimensional)

* Spatial - forces in space (three dimensional)

 Parallel Force System

- a system consists of forces that are parallel.

T P Q

R1 R2

Fig. : Parallel force system

 Non-Concurrent, Non-Parallel Force system

P T P
Q
Q

F R2H

R1 R2
T

Fig. : Non-Concurrent, Non-Parallel force system

 Components of a Force or Rectangular Components of a Force
Sometimes it is necessary to resolve a force into its components to study its pulling or
pushing effect in specific directions (x, y, z). With the use of Rectangular Coordinate Axes (x and
y -axes), the force can be resolve into two components. To determine the magnitude of the
component a rectangle is constructed first by drawing lines from tip of the force, one line parallel
to x-axis and the other line parallel to y-axis, intersecting the x and y axes, thus forming a
rectangle (see figure below). The components (Fx and Fy) are then establish drawing a line form
the tail of the force to the intersection points in x and y axes. The rectangle can be reduced into a
right triangle and the components can be solve using the trigonometric functions (sin, cos, tan).

Rectangular components of force F:

y
Fx Fy
cos   sin  
Fx F F
Fx  F cos  Fy  F sin 

F By Phytagorean Theorem:
Fy Fy
2 2
F 2  FX  FY
θ x F
tan   Y
Fx FX

Problems:
1. A 1000N force is exerted on a bolt as shown. Determine the horizontal and vertical
components of the force.

Y
1000 N Required:
Vertical and horizontal
35˚ X
components of the force.

Solution:

Y
1000 N Fy  1000 sin 35  573.58 N 
Fy
35˚ X
Fx  1000 cos 35  819.15 N 
Fx
2. A man pulls a rope with a force of 300N on a cable attached to a building at point A.
Determine the horizontal and vertical components of the force exerted at point A.

10m

Man
25 m

Solution:
a. Slope of the rope:

10 ÷ 5 = 2 29 29
2
θ
θ 5
25 ÷ 5 = 5

5 2
cos   sin  
29 29

b. At point A:

Fx
A

2
5 29
F = 300N
Fy

FX  F cos  FY  F sin 
 5   2 
FX  300 N   FY  300 N  
 29   29 
FX  278.54 N FY  112.42 N
G. References:
1. Vector Mechanics for Engineers 10th Edition, Beer, F.P., Johnston, E.R.Jr,
Mazurek, D.F., Cornwell, P.J.2013

2. Engineering Mechanics Statics 13th Edition, Hibbeler, R.C.,2013

3. Engineering Mechanics Statics 14th Edition, Hibbeler, R.C.,2016

4. Engineering Mechanics Statics 3rd Edition, Pytel, A., Kiusalaas, J., 2010